Charlie Battery: A Marine Artillery Unit in Iraq (Hellgate Memories Series)

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: A must read for the parent who has a son or daughter currently serving in the Marines or considering an enlistment during these troubled times. Andrew Lubin paints a true and accurate word picture when describing the emotional roller coaster only a parent of a Marine can experience when knowing their son or daughter is forward deployed in harms way with an organization that prides itself in looking for a fight. For those of us directly involved in searching for that fight it is a unique glimpse into the minds of those loved ones we left behind. Non-military readers will find this book easy to follow as Lubin has taken complex military jargon and translated it into easy to understand passages. It is important to note, this book is not a detailed study of the Battle for Nasiriyah Iraq, which is referenced throughout the pages along with one chapter giving a brief overview of the battle itself. To date, the little that has been written about Nasiriyah has been either embellished or poorly written, which has unfortunately added much confusion to the historical significance of those days. However, Lubin's account of the battle is provided by personal interviews from the Marines and Sailors who actually fought for control of the city. When Lubin provides a quote you can consider it accurate and not paraphrased or cut and pasted from an unknown source. Lubin's detailed research and documentation gives "Charlie Battery: A Marine Artillery Unit in Iraq" absolute credibility. Semper Fi...

Rating:
Summary: Powerful and Moving
Review: Andrew Lubin's breakout book, a personal examinination of a U.S. Marine Corps artillery unit's experiences in the most recent Gulf War, is, in short, a triumph.

With good reason, military personnel tend to be suspicious of journalists and writers these days. Lubin has overcome this obstacle magnificently, however, and displays in this work an incredible access to his subjects--both those on the ground and those who commanded them. This allows for a level of detail, sincerity, and connection impossible in one of the "book of the week" exposes of the war. Indeed, the biggest difference between Lubin and Tom Wolf is that Lubin actually talked to the people he quotes.

With all of the bad news coming out of the Iraq war, it is encouraging to find a book that looks at the most positive aspects of those who have made the best of a bad situtation.

Rating:
Summary: Like Being There All Over Again.
Review: Being a Marine in Charlie Battery, I was one of the first to read this book. It was like going through it all over again. I remembered the long nights before the war & of course the sleepless ones during the battle of An-Nas. I Recomend this book to anyone that questions the importance of Marine Artillery. Great book for any reader!

Rating:
Summary: In one line: Damn, this is a Real Life book.
Review: The author did a hell of a good job here. From the 1st page, the 1st paragraph, you get personally involved.
A lot to say about it...but for starters, the book gives it to you straight. Plenty of events that didn't make it to the news or in the paper. The book has integrity: the real events aren't in here for the shock value as much as they get you involved and operating as part of Charlie Battery, a Marine artillery unit deep in Iraq.
The pictures, probably sent to Lubin from his son or son's friends, are obviously not meant for easy mass consumption -they're real and taken by soldiers, not reporters. Same for the stories; there were obviously plenty of interviews and information collection going on straight from the Charlie Battery troops.
I really like the little extras: the "ROE Card" (rules of engagement) on pages 42-43 was very cool, as well as quotes from various Charlie Battery Marines and even one of their captured Iraqi officers.
The book isn't just guts and glory, though -it's certainly got its personal side. The author reprints correspondence e-mails from his son throughout the book. They made me stop and just think more than a few times...these Marines: they're both America's Best and they're just kids. You feel your heart sink a few times reading those e-mails.
In the Intro I found out one of the Marines, LCpl Turcotte is from my hometown, Manchester, NH. This book pulls you in -you pack up with these boys, you ride with them and you fight with them. And some come home -some to return back and some come home to stay. Bottom line: the book grips you; the author and father to one of the Marines, ensures that.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Rating:
Summary: Iraq First Hand
Review: This book provides first hand accounts of a Marine artillary unit during the 2003 phase of the Iraq war. Young Marines write e-mails and letters that indicates how young they really are, and how they grow to be military men in one quick hurry, and how proud all Americans should be of their service for our freedom and that of the Iraqi people.